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Reproduced
by kind permission of the RAF
News
Reporter: Dylan Eklund
Pictures: SAC Adam Fletcher
47
times around the World
with 2MT Sqn
As
the final RAF vehicle convoys came home from Italy after
the end of Operation ELLAMY, Chief of the Air Staff Air
Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton welcomed them back to
RAF Wittering; thanking personnel from the A4
(Logistics) Force for their role in supporting air
operations.
During
Op ELLAMY, No 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron (2 MTS)
vehicles drove 1,169,986 miles, equivalent to travelling
around the equator more than 47 times, carrying 8540
tonnes of freight - the equivalent of 813 Hercules
aircraft loads.
Sir
Stephen took the opportunity to chat with the drivers
and get a first-hand account of the challenges they
faced. 2MTS suffered the only operational fatality of
the Operation with the sad loss of SAC James Smart who
was involved in a RTA as his convoy was transiting
through southern Italy.
 During
the two-hour visit, Sir Stephen took the opportunity to
drive an Oshkosh Close Support Tanker (adorned with a
4-star plate), before visiting the No 2 MTS Operations
Room, No 5001 Squadron's Station Engineering Flight and
No 3 Mobile Catering Squadron.
Addressing
personnel, Sir Stephen said:
"I
think there's no question that without the support
units here, whether it be 2MT, the hangar erectors, the
people who keep everything going and those who keep us
fed in various parts of the world recently, we would not
have been able to be as effective as we have been."
For
Sgt Wayne Merrix, this convoy was his last before
leaving the RAF. His final trip retraced the steps of
his first journey with the Squadron more than a decade
ago.
"My
first encounter with the Squadron was 12 years ago when
I travelled down with them to Gioia Del Colle and my
last trip with 2 MT was to the same destination" he
said.
The
journeys to and from Southern Italy ferried cargos
varying from to explosive ordnance to aircraft wheels.
"It's
quite a lonely trip, four days there, four days back,"
said Sgt Merrix. "It's a challenge to do 4000 miles
on your own and maintain the level of concentrations you
have to apply. We do stop regularly but on the continent
it can be difficult sometimes to find somewhere to park
10 trucks overnight."
Gp
Capt Richard Hill, A4 (Logistics) Force Commander and
Stn Cdr RAF Wittering summarised the performance of his
personnel:
 "Op
ELLAMY represented the first time for many years that
the RAF has undertaken an expeditionary operation. The
role played by units and personnel from the A4 Force was
crucial in delivering, at pace and over extended lines
of communication, many of the logistics and supporting
services necessary to enable the operation. I am
extremely proud of the contribution that the A4 Force
has made, and delighted that CAS took the time and
trouble to visit RAF Wittering and pass on his personal
appreciation to a cross-section of the personnel who had
been involved. Op ELLAMY has again highlighted the
importance of logistic support and underlined the role
of the A4 Force as the RAF's logistic enabler for
deployed operations. We will continue to refine the
level and types of support we provide, and continue to
develop/enhance the working relationship we have with HQ
Air Cmd, and the Expeditionary Air Wings, such that we
are able to meet whatever challenges may arise in the
future."
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